FaunaHub

Rain Frog (Breviceps spp.)

AmphibianFrogAfricaBurrowing

Rain frog (Breviceps), a small round burrowing frog with a grumpy-looking face and short legs.

Namaqua rain frog (Breviceps namaquensis).

Image: Oliver Angus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Rain frogs (genus Breviceps) are small, comically round African frogs with short legs, a plump body, and a flattened, often grumpy-looking face. They are dedicated burrowers, spending most of their lives underground and emerging — often after rain — to feed and breed, which is how they get their name.

Their globe-like shape comes at a cost: rain frogs are poor swimmers and can barely jump, tending to walk or shuffle instead. When alarmed, several species inflate themselves into a tight ball and give a high, squeaky “cry” — a sound that has made the desert rain frog an internet favourite.

Note: there are many rain-frog species across southern Africa; details here describe the group broadly.

Habitat & Range

Rain frogs live in southern Africa across a range of habitats, from coastal dunes and fynbos to grassland, scrub, and forest floor. They are fossorial — spending much of their time buried in soil or sand — and depend on diggable ground and seasonal moisture. Some species are adapted to surprisingly dry, sandy country.

Diet

Rain frogs feed on small invertebrates such as ants, termites, beetles, and other tiny insects, which they snap up at or near the surface during their brief spells above ground, especially when rain brings prey out.

Behavior

Rain frogs spend long periods underground and surface mainly in damp conditions. Their breeding is unusual in two ways. First, because the male is so small and round-bodied that he cannot grip the larger female in the normal frog embrace, the female produces a sticky secretion that effectively glues the pair together until mating is complete. Second, the eggs are laid in a moist underground chamber and develop directly into tiny froglets — there is no free-swimming tadpole stage and no need for open water. When threatened, a rain frog may puff up into a rigid ball and squeak.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Rain frogs are harmless and have become well known through viral videos of their indignant squeak. As burrowing amphibians they can be sensitive to habitat loss, coastal development, and changes in land use; many species are widespread while some are localised. Consult the IUCN Red List for the status of a particular species.

More photos of the rain frog

A Cape rain frog, a plump round-bodied burrowing frog.

Cape rain frog (Breviceps gibbosus).

Image: Oliver Angus, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Rain Frog

Why is it called a rain frog?
Because these burrowing frogs spend most of their lives underground and tend to emerge to feed and breed in connection with rain and damp weather. Their appearances are closely tied to moisture, hence 'rain frog'.
Why do rain frogs squeak?
When alarmed, many rain frogs inflate their round bodies and give a high-pitched squeak or chirp as a defence, which can startle a predator. The desert rain frog's indignant little 'cry' has made it a popular internet animal.
Do rain frogs have tadpoles?
No free-swimming tadpoles. Rain frogs lay their eggs in a moist underground chamber, and the young develop directly into tiny froglets inside the eggs — so they don't need an open pond, and there is no aquatic tadpole stage.
Why do mating rain frogs get 'glued' together?
The male is so small and round that he can't properly clasp the larger female in the usual frog grip. To keep the pair together during mating, the female secretes a sticky substance that glues the male to her back until the process is finished.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.